APA 7th Edition: The Basics of APA In-text Citations | Scribbr 🎓
Short Summary:
This Scribbr video tutorial explains the basics of APA 7th edition in-text citations. Key points cover the inclusion of author's last name and publication year, the use of locators (page numbers, timestamps, paragraph numbers) for specific quotes or paraphrases, and handling multiple authors (using "et al."). Different citation styles (parenthetical and narrative) are demonstrated, along with how to handle missing information like author names or publication dates. The video promotes Scribbr's citation generator as a helpful tool and points viewers to further resources for more complex citation scenarios. The implications are improved academic writing accuracy and consistency in referencing sources.
Detailed Summary:
The video begins by introducing the concept of in-text citations as a way to concisely identify sources and direct readers to the reference list. Jessica from Scribbr explains that in-text citations are essential for paraphrases and direct quotes.
Section 1: Basic In-text Citation Structure: The core of an APA 7th edition in-text citation consists of the author's last name and publication year. Locators (page numbers, timestamps, paragraph numbers, headings) are added when citing specific parts of a source, with page numbers only required for direct quotes. The video emphasizes the use of Scribbr's citation generator for ease and consistency.
Section 2: Citation Styles: Two citation styles are presented: parenthetical (author, year) placed at the end of the sentence, and narrative, where the author's name is integrated into the sentence followed by the year. Examples are provided for both styles: "(Parker, 2019)" and "Parker (2019) found...".
Section 3: Handling Multiple Authors: The video explains how to cite sources with multiple authors. For two authors, use an ampersand (&); for three or more, use the first author's last name followed by "et al.". Examples are given: "Harris & Cook (2020)" and "Smith et al. (2023)".
Section 4: Handling Missing Information: The video addresses scenarios where key information is missing. If the author is unknown but the organization is known, use the organization's name. If both are unknown, use the title (in italics or quotation marks, title case). Examples include "(Tesla, 2020)" and ("U.S. Flood Risk," 2015). The use of "n.d." (no date) for sources lacking publication years is also explained. Alternative locators (timestamps, chapter numbers, paragraph numbers) are shown as substitutes for page numbers when needed. Examples: "(Liu, 2020, 03:26)", "(Johnson, 2019, Chapter 3)", "(McCombes, 2016, para. 4)".
Section 5: Further Resources: The video concludes by acknowledging more complex scenarios (e.g., multiple authors with the same last name, multiple works by the same author in the same year) and directs viewers to additional Scribbr resources for guidance on these situations. The speaker encourages viewers to explore a linked APA 7th edition playlist for further learning.